plane crash-landed on busy Hudson river next to Central Park and all 155 passengers & crew rescued..a miracle no less because of the 57 year old captain's intelligent calm skillful handling and the rapid response by 14 commuter ferries, fire department, coast guard and fast, effective evacuation of passengers by the brave crew (captain walk up and down the sinking plane twice to check that all are rescued before being rescued himself) etc...an unusual "double bird strike" stalling both engines at 3000 feet by a flock of geese minutes after take off caused rapid loss of altitude from 2000 feet to 400 feet and narrowing options, and pilot had to make a series of sharp turns to negotiate the plane to crash land on the narrow stretch of Hudson river, where temperature is -7degC, and only 1 passenger broke both legs, all safely rescued including baby and passenger on wheelchair...the best inspirational story to be read and reread on Readers Digest for a long time...
kudos to a Korean Court which jailed a Korean man 30 months for raping his Filipino wife...he got the poor Filipino women in 2006 through dating agency and was accused of repeatedly forcing her to have sex by threatening her with stun gun and knife...this a first in Korea's male-oriented society, seems only other case was a man convicted of indecent assault on estranged wife.. come to think of it, not sure this ever happened in Singapore?
a Singapore van driver hit two 9-year-olds on a pedestrian crossing near Old Airport Road on their way home from school, landing both in hospital and leaving one still unconscious with head injuries. the 2 had almost reached the end of the crossing when a van came "very fast" and hit them...such reckless drivers should be banned from the roads forever!
a China women was sentenced to death, convicted of hiring a killer to kill her own 9 year-old son in order that she can have a child with her second husband..the man she married after her 1st husband died already had a daughter. she hired the killer to kill the girl but she got away, so she got her son from the previous marriage go to a meeting with the killer who then strangled him. such sentenced are usually commuted to life subsequently...it is easy to blame China's one child policy however one must be inhuman or totally deranged to commit such unspeakable horrors....
a China maid in a Shanghai county put a 1 year old baby on a chopping block and slashed her with a kitchen knife..the father rushed into the kitchen and snatched the baby away after the mother heard her screams...the mother was also injured when she struggled with the maid...the baby suffered 5 slashes, needed 100s of sutures, one injury severed the nerves and her face was totally scarred...
so many sad things happening in every corners of the world, what with Gaza, Zimbabwee etc...at the same time, the world is becoming more aware, proactive, green, and maybe Obama will bring hope and leadership to the world and leave our next generation with their earth's inheritance intact!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
any other day
had my weekly swim at Keppel Club...just 16 laps (junwei is on 20 laps)..feels good. weather getting just bit colder...pool water is cold even at 10am..
went to Domes cafe @ Dempsey to pick up something from a banker...
Jun & I decided to go makan nasi padang at Kim Seng Road but I decided last minute to have pig trotters at the hawker centre instead...very unhealthy but shiok...hehe...
it was 12.20pm just ahead of lunch crowd...put my food tray on a 4 seater table & went back to get the second bowl of pig trotters for Jun. had a minor tiff with the young girl mid-twenties on the next table...went like this (this is our table...I am sitting here, my food is here...I was sitting here before you...when I put down my food (tray) you said nothing...you just put down & went off so fast...) whatever...anyway solution - there was an empty table 10 feet away so I moved my food over no point expense my mood on this unproductive thing (you don't own the food centre, my friend) --- in my mind she placed nothing on the next table...and you cannot reserve the next (2nd) table for 4 when you have 4pax and already occupy 1 table of 4 especially when the hawker centre is getting crowded...
anyway had a real enjoyable lunch (sinful things usually enjoyable hehe) get back do some work and later may go gym before my evening engagement....
went to Domes cafe @ Dempsey to pick up something from a banker...
Jun & I decided to go makan nasi padang at Kim Seng Road but I decided last minute to have pig trotters at the hawker centre instead...very unhealthy but shiok...hehe...
it was 12.20pm just ahead of lunch crowd...put my food tray on a 4 seater table & went back to get the second bowl of pig trotters for Jun. had a minor tiff with the young girl mid-twenties on the next table...went like this (this is our table...I am sitting here, my food is here...I was sitting here before you...when I put down my food (tray) you said nothing...you just put down & went off so fast...) whatever...anyway solution - there was an empty table 10 feet away so I moved my food over no point expense my mood on this unproductive thing (you don't own the food centre, my friend) --- in my mind she placed nothing on the next table...and you cannot reserve the next (2nd) table for 4 when you have 4pax and already occupy 1 table of 4 especially when the hawker centre is getting crowded...
anyway had a real enjoyable lunch (sinful things usually enjoyable hehe) get back do some work and later may go gym before my evening engagement....
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Tai Wah Pork Noodles (bakchomee) #02-17 Hong Lim Food Centre
wife and youngest daughter went shopping at vivo-city.
wanted to get out of the house so drove to Shaw House. walked through Isetan Orchard. things are really expensive even with 50% off 70% off sales, what with the recession?
2 years ago during CNY period I bought 3 pairs of Timberland shoes for like $250! now even with 30% off similar Timberland shoes are costing $250 less 30% (or $175!)..where is the sales?
walked along Scotts road. now they have sidewalk cafes for McCafe/McDonald's, Starbucks, Canele...and bubble tea is like $1.20 only. walk over to Level One (thought it was still Metro! how long have I not been here).
contemplated taking the $2 McDonald's double-decker cheese burger, but decided to drive off to Hong Lim food centre to try out the Tai Wah bakchomee instead. got behind a constant queue of 6-7 and got my $4 meekia dry after 15-20mins. think this is the best (& cheapest!) I tried of the 3 Tai Wahs (recently the eldest and youngest brother had a public spaton the Straist Times), better than the one at Crawford Court and Vivo Food Republic (about same as the Marina Square stall which had closed down). the noddle is springy (qq), the vinegar a tad too much, the 2 meatballs, liver, pork slices, minced pork, 2 dumplings, dried dace all great stuff worth the queueing.
the Outram Road char kuay teow @#02-18 was closed, but there is longer queue even at Kee Kee wanton noodles @#02-49. the curry chicken noodle Heng Kee at level one is closed, but the Ah Heng curry chicken at level 2 (the one I prefered) is open. <>
wanted to get out of the house so drove to Shaw House. walked through Isetan Orchard. things are really expensive even with 50% off 70% off sales, what with the recession?
2 years ago during CNY period I bought 3 pairs of Timberland shoes for like $250! now even with 30% off similar Timberland shoes are costing $250 less 30% (or $175!)..where is the sales?
walked along Scotts road. now they have sidewalk cafes for McCafe/McDonald's, Starbucks, Canele...and bubble tea is like $1.20 only. walk over to Level One (thought it was still Metro! how long have I not been here).
contemplated taking the $2 McDonald's double-decker cheese burger, but decided to drive off to Hong Lim food centre to try out the Tai Wah bakchomee instead. got behind a constant queue of 6-7 and got my $4 meekia dry after 15-20mins. think this is the best (& cheapest!) I tried of the 3 Tai Wahs (recently the eldest and youngest brother had a public spaton the Straist Times), better than the one at Crawford Court and Vivo Food Republic (about same as the Marina Square stall which had closed down). the noddle is springy (qq), the vinegar a tad too much, the 2 meatballs, liver, pork slices, minced pork, 2 dumplings, dried dace all great stuff worth the queueing.
the Outram Road char kuay teow @#02-18 was closed, but there is longer queue even at Kee Kee wanton noodles @#02-49. the curry chicken noodle Heng Kee at level one is closed, but the Ah Heng curry chicken at level 2 (the one I prefered) is open. <
"Money No Enough 2" by Jack Neo
last evening, my whole family went to watch "Money No Enough 2" at the club.
this was the second time my wife and I saw the movie. my 2 daughters like it. my son slept through parts of it. my wife didn't like the depressing theme which she viewed as real, something encountered in daily life and not funny, and that the audience found it funny and laughed throughout the movie.
I thought it was really good, very realistic in capturing the behaviour of Singaporeans (and perhaps people in general) as my elder daughter also said. I felt the movie was no slapstick. the fact that the movie was peppered with laughter throughout showed that the audience really identified with the many scenes and instances in the movie. that my wife felt the issues were real and everyday problems and the theme was depressing also showed that the movie has substance and insight and is not just bent on gaining laughter.
the 3 brothers each suffered setbacks of their own making, whether it was due to greed, reckless irresponsibility in the youngest brother (Mark Lee), selfishness and hyprocrisy especially in the second brother (Jack Neo). the problem of the aging mother striken with diabetes and alzeimer is indeed real, an everyday struggle for many, and discomforting.
it is all too easy to judge until one is faced with a constant daily nursing effort, costs (rising healthcare costs and priorities of a profit-driven listed hospital group are the issues in focus here!) and inconvenience coping with a aged, sick and immobile parent (like having to wash 6 towels a day soiled by urinary incontinence of a diabetes patient etc). parents are generally willing to cope with sick or disabled child and stoically assume the hardship for a lifetime yet the same people often are not likely to do the same for their parents (or probably even their spouse) less than grudgingly. perhaps it is human nature that love for our children are largely unconditional but the same may not apply to parents, spouse or another adults, whereas the protective feeling towards our children always remain that way even when they become adult.
while my view is that we should tend to our aged parents as we would our children, sick, bedridden or striken by alzeimer, I am unwilling to judge others. also I do not think I can be a very sensitive or caring caregiver (certainly less useful than a professionally trained caregiver) though not a grudging one-in my case it is moot as my parents passed away when I was 18 and 19.
anyhow my view is that quality of life for both the one needng care and his(her) family would improve if Singapore and elsewhere develop and expand more professionally managed retirement homes where proper healthcare, nursing and leisure/community needs are met by professionally trained caregivers. people should still take care of their aged parents and not dumped them in the old folks home, but at least there is a real choice and quality alternative, not one where old folks feel unwanted and deserted.
this was the second time my wife and I saw the movie. my 2 daughters like it. my son slept through parts of it. my wife didn't like the depressing theme which she viewed as real, something encountered in daily life and not funny, and that the audience found it funny and laughed throughout the movie.
I thought it was really good, very realistic in capturing the behaviour of Singaporeans (and perhaps people in general) as my elder daughter also said. I felt the movie was no slapstick. the fact that the movie was peppered with laughter throughout showed that the audience really identified with the many scenes and instances in the movie. that my wife felt the issues were real and everyday problems and the theme was depressing also showed that the movie has substance and insight and is not just bent on gaining laughter.
the 3 brothers each suffered setbacks of their own making, whether it was due to greed, reckless irresponsibility in the youngest brother (Mark Lee), selfishness and hyprocrisy especially in the second brother (Jack Neo). the problem of the aging mother striken with diabetes and alzeimer is indeed real, an everyday struggle for many, and discomforting.
it is all too easy to judge until one is faced with a constant daily nursing effort, costs (rising healthcare costs and priorities of a profit-driven listed hospital group are the issues in focus here!) and inconvenience coping with a aged, sick and immobile parent (like having to wash 6 towels a day soiled by urinary incontinence of a diabetes patient etc). parents are generally willing to cope with sick or disabled child and stoically assume the hardship for a lifetime yet the same people often are not likely to do the same for their parents (or probably even their spouse) less than grudgingly. perhaps it is human nature that love for our children are largely unconditional but the same may not apply to parents, spouse or another adults, whereas the protective feeling towards our children always remain that way even when they become adult.
while my view is that we should tend to our aged parents as we would our children, sick, bedridden or striken by alzeimer, I am unwilling to judge others. also I do not think I can be a very sensitive or caring caregiver (certainly less useful than a professionally trained caregiver) though not a grudging one-in my case it is moot as my parents passed away when I was 18 and 19.
anyhow my view is that quality of life for both the one needng care and his(her) family would improve if Singapore and elsewhere develop and expand more professionally managed retirement homes where proper healthcare, nursing and leisure/community needs are met by professionally trained caregivers. people should still take care of their aged parents and not dumped them in the old folks home, but at least there is a real choice and quality alternative, not one where old folks feel unwanted and deserted.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
anju restaurant @ arashiyama : "superb yuba & black hair Japanese beef set"
Arashiyama is a 15miutes ride from Kyoto station (via JR Sagano line Kyoto Station Saga-Arashiyama Station). It has everything for a 1day excursion (or 1 night ryokan stay) on the outskirts of Kyoto from Togetsukyo bridge over Hozu river to bamboo grove to tenryuji temple. We had an excellent stay at togetsutei ryokan recently on 17.12.2008 (the kaiseki is tops) and we chanced on a really great lunch the next day at Anju Restaurant located along the road from togetsukyo bridge along Saga Tenryuji Ktatsukurimichicho just past Tenryuji temple entrance and before reaching the bamboo grove turn-off.
My wife and I both had the 3900Y set. Except for the wagyu (& fish) it was an entirely yuba set. This was a really great combination for us. While we were both keen on good yuba set (having tasted a really marvellous 3500Y set at a yuba restaurant along the road leaving kiyomizu temple during our last trip) we decided though that we would not pay that kind of money again for yuba no matter how good the yuba was so we skip the yuba restaurant Shigetsu in Tenryuji even though it came with good reviews.
We had yuba sashimi, and it was really nice - fresh, refreshing just ike sashimi (but nothing like real sashimi nevertheless), a deep fried yuba dish which is really really superb, a bean paste starter, a simmered dish beancurd, 2 fried fish pieces with roe, and mochi dessert+ a fried starch cube - nicely sweet and tasty similar to sweet non-savory version of Korean nian gao.
The main course was a good grade wagyu sirlion steak done rare (though my wife complained that hers was more like medium rare). It was marbled and very tasty and tender. In my opinion, this Anju set is really value for money. The wayu steak would have cost upwards of 2500Y in any average Kyoto restaurant, and the yuba set w/o the steak would be almost a match for a 3000Y set in a good yuba restaurant.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)